22nd June 2020
The Curragh is set to stage the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival this weekend with Friday kicking off a superb three days of top class racing.
Entries for Day 1 taking place this Friday closed this morning. The feature TRM Spring Fillies Handicap has attracted 20 entries most notably the Ger Lyons trained Auxilia, Miss Myers trained by Michael Grassick and recent winner Moll trained by Paddy Twomey. Joseph O’Brien is likely to have a strong team in the valuable contest over 8 furlongs with four entries including Brook On Fifth and Chrysalism
A full field of 18 will be expected to line up in the extra.ie Apprentice Handicap, the most prestigious race in the calendar for young aspiring champion jockeys, while the competitive Hanlon Concrete Handicap features 35 entries. An additional 8th race sponsored by Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital will be added to the programme with details on www.hri-ras.ie
Declared runners for Friday will be published at 10am on Wednesday
Entries and final forfeits for Saturday including the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and Sunday including the Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly Stakes will be published tomorrow.
The festival will be run behind closed doors due to Irish government protocols. Extensive media coverage of the weekend will include live coverage by RTE and Racing TV over all three days
The ground is as follows:
Round Course – Good, good to firm in places. Straight Course – Good
Forecast: unsettled, monitoring the situation with regards to watering.
Racing on stand side of track, stalls in centre for all sprints.